All-time favourites The Snowman and the New Year's Day concert will be making a comeback this year to Sage Gateshead which has just announced a festive season that also includes themed menus to enjoy alongside the shows.
Meals and platters will be available for main performances on its Christmas programme and these include snacks for the Home Alone in Concert with Royal Northern Sinfonia event which the film's young Kevin McCallister no doubt would have approved of - Pizza Parlour food and milkshakes.
The 1990 festive film favourite, starring Macaulay Culkin, will be screened at the Gateshead concert hall on December 11, with in-house orchestra Royal Northern Sinfonia - and its choir - performing the John William musical score live. The pizza and milkshakes will be an optional extra.
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Other highlight nights include three-course dining for The Messiah; antipasto charcuterie boards as an added treat for the Viennese-style New Year’s Day concert and themed festive platters for The Snowman. This event, which also combines film and live music, will feature a screening of the animated film based on the much-loved book, The Snowman, by Raymond Briggs, who died on Wednesday, and it will run from December 22 until Christmas Eve.
Sage, which soon is expected to reveal a change of name, has also announced the return of its Royal Northern Sinfonia Christmas by Candlelight tour of North East churches from December 1-9. Also back, as part of the winter programme, will be last year's offer of 1,000 cut-price tickets, costing just £2.50 and £5, for those wanting to visit the venue for the first time.
Kicking off the December bill will be popular TV choirmaster Gareth Malone who, accompanied by his band and singers, will showcase songs he’s performed over the last 15 years on TV, in Sing-along-a-Gareth, which will include folk trio Granny’s Attic, on December 1.
A new addition this year will be a series of cabaret-style concerts in Sage Two. And on the December 10-11 weekend, children aged seven and under will be able to sing and dance along at a Big Festive Family Gig, where children's lunch boxes also will be available for just £3.95.
The programme will also include Handel’s Messiah; a Christmas on Broadway night of classics; a collection of musical theatre songs inspired by Dracula; music of the New Romantic 80s and a Soul'd Out Christmas Party.
Regular favourite Kate Rusby will host another evening of song and storytelling; The Sleeping Beauty will be a festive treat from The Hallé and The Sixteen will perform a-capella choral music from the 12th Century to the present day. Adding to overall the programme is Sage Gateshead ’s artist-in-residence Martha Hill who will be showcasing some of the work she has produced during her time at the venue.
Abigail Pogson, its managing director, said: “Christmas at Sage Gateshead is back at full throttle for 2022." She said the programme ranges from traditional Christmas music to fun nights out, adding: "We want as many people as possible to be able to celebrate Christmas with music this year.
"And over 1000 of our tickets will be priced £5 and £2.50, targeting those who otherwise might not be able to come." This offer begins with the Royal Northern Sinfonia concerts in December and tickets can be bought by calling the box office on 0191 443 4661.
The Sage also has opportunities for people to take part in one-off song and music classes over Christmas. For details of this and for the full programme of what's on offer see here.
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